Willamette is Ranked #25 in AFCA Coaches Poll

Bearcats Conclude Season at 7-2 Overall, 4-2 in the NWC

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University has returned to the NCAA Division III Coaches Poll released by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). In the poll released on Monday, Nov. 18, the Bearcats were ranked #25 after finishing the season with a 7-2 overall record, including 4-2 (3rd place) in the Northwest Conference.

The #1 team remained the University of Mount Union (Ohio), 10-0, which received 38 of 42 first place votes and 1,046 points. The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (Texas), 10-0, was listed at #2 with the final four first place votes and 1,027 points. Linfield College, 9-0, which won the Northwest Conference title, was ranked #3 with 952 points in the poll.

North Central College (Ill.), 10-0, held the #4 position with 913 points. The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, 10-0,was #5 with 887 points and Bethel University (Minn.) was #6 with 842 points.

Willamette was ranked at #19 on Oct. 21, before losses to nationally-ranked Pacific Lutheran University and Linfield. PLU is now ranked #12 in the poll.

The Bearcats rebounded with a 21-17 win against Pacific University and a 62-20 victory over the University of Puget Sound. Pacific was not ranked, but received points in the poll for much of the season.

In addition to a strong passing game, the Bearcats added 188.4 rushing yards per contest. Taylor Wyman (Jr., RB, Bellevue, WA/Issaquah HS) led the way with 555 yards on 87 carries (6.4 avg.). Wyman scored 10 rushing touchdowns. He also caught two touchdown passes, rushed for three 2-point conversions and passed for a pair of 2-point conversions.

Tyson Giza (Sr., CB, Salem, OR/Sprague HS) led the NWC with 28.6 yards per kickoff return, as he brought back 20 kicks for a total of 573 yards. He scored two touchdowns on kickoff returns covering 85 and 84 yards. Giza also recorded a team-high four interceptions.

The AFCA will release a final NCAA Division III Coaches Poll at the conclusion of the NCAA Playoffs in December.